Thread by @KatoriHall

A THREAD #PValley SEASON FINALE: Tonight’s episode “Mississippi Rule” was written and directed by yuh guh @katorihall, cinematography by Rodney Taylor ASC. Endings and beginnings abound in Chucalissa. In this last breakdown, I’ll kiki about both writing and directing. Enjoy!

Murda’s new track underscores the finale opener, a surreal slo-mo moment more at home in music video land than in drama. Embedded in LaKieshaAutumnHaileyNightColtonSavage’s POV, we see her enjoying the drama she’s caused between Andre and his wife Britney.

🎬 CHAIR - I love giving actors freedom and Parker Sawyers + Ashani Roberts fueled the beginning of this tense moment with the appropriate amount of rage through improv.

In #PValley masks have been a metaphor for the various personas of all our characters. From Hailey and her multiple identities to Andre, who wears the mask of the “Good Negro” to erase his own father for fear of being labeled the “Bad Negro” that his murdering dad became.

The symbolism of masks continues as Murda confronts the many versions of himself in a mirror. Blue hair Murda, Blonde Murda, Icy Murda. Durag Murda. Killa Murda. But the reflection that looms largest of all is that of LaMarques, dressed in black leather, a man still in mourning.

He stares into the mirror fractured by the fight is wrath wrought. A crossroads moment. He has already shedded the water ‘round his neck. As Woddy would say an anchor. But something still glistens. His grillz. Removing them, he removes the last lie.

He walks on stage. This ain’t Lil/Big Murda. LaMarques here nanh. The duality continues in our lighting. Two jewel tones of sapphire and magenta split Murda in half. A sign he is embracing his darkness and his light. His devil and angel standing on broad shoulders.

In this moment the Pynk becomes Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, as Murda demands DJ Neva Scared cut the music. Mane, his Chief-fi-Chief nemesis, glowers at the stage edge. And in the silence he falls deep inside of himself + spits his rhyme.

“7 lbs of Pressure” by @IamDavidFuller, Deante’ Hitchcock @DeanteVH, @FMNewMoney1 and produced by Brandon Phillips-Taylor is part challenge, soliloquy, slam poetry and blues. Having went into the booth after killing Pico, this is the most raw we’ve ever heard Murda.

In “Snow” Mercedes listened to Murda’s new personal track only to confront her own experience. Diamond’s extraction of those 7lbs from her arm took her on an odyssey where she struggled with “holding her own weight” literally and figuratively. She chooses to bless his track.

On the beat drop the stage is drowned in blood red, and Mercedes emerges sparkling like a whole ‘nother universe. @Therealbrandee absolutely slays in @TiffTheStylist’s custom-made sequined floss that catches our roaming white-hot spotlights.

This is the first time, the Pynk’s stage has ever been flooded red. The frame goes infrared and monochromatic, a signature of our Delta Noir style. I wanted it to look like a photographic negative that Murda—thru his art a la Lauryn Hill—is trying to turn into a positive picture.

Mane looking up at Mercedes dancing beneath those red lights with Murda reflects his desire, but of course the anger of them both. She is dancing under the shine of a Hurt Village Hustla color, which breaks his heart.

While this moment is influenced by my theatrical stage craft, I gearshift into music video style, as we swirl inside the performance. Having Murda look into the camera makes it feel more intimate for the viewer at home and reflects how #PValley breaks the 4th wall.

@JAlphonse_N learned the rap at 150% meaning you have to shoot at 36 frames per second. In editing it allowed us to create special ramp moments, accenting between real and slo-mo adding oomph and power to our signature music video style.

THE SHOT: The climax of the song aligns with the climax of the dance. When Murda crouches at the foot of the pole on the bridge, from beneath the floor, we see Mercedes at the top of the pole dangling as if she’s gangsta walkin’ on the ceiling. She then makes gravity her friend.

Dance double Maria Jade’s signature trick required us to shoot in TWO PARTS. Prt 1 - we shot upwards through a plexiglass floor as Maria dropped and flew over @JAlphonse_N’s head Prt 2 - we built out the stage floor, increasing it by 4 ft to give her room to catapult far.

Editor Kristina Hamilton-Grobler @kristina_hg matched up the moments seamlessly. A theatrical lighting change, slo-mo, doubling, music, sound and production design created an iconic moment that makes this Mercedes Experience go down as one of the best dances in #PValley history.

The election results roll in during a ramp down of the song and this is where @MattHeadMusic’s rock and roll score makes love with Murda’s rap. A Prince-esque guitar riff brings the fire as we learn Woodbine has beat Andre and Wayne Kyle in the race. Woodbine walks into her light

Rock n’ roll is black folx music, born in churches and juke joints in the South. It was only fitting we reclaim this American music made by US in Murda’s transformative musical moment.

We did not hear Uncle Clifford’s call from Chucalissa General about Grandmuva. Seeing Uncle Clifford forgive Keyshawn indicated that she understood the importance of making the most of our short lives. One could only assume because Ernestine had died.

But Murda and Mercedes find Uncle Clifford drowning…in tears of happiness. She didn’t take Beulah’s water. And with that Ernestine lives to see another day.

Keyshawn’s fairytale ending feels in reach. She looks the part of Lil’ Red Ridin’ Hood in the forest as Hailey narrates her own DV survivor rule book. Hailey’s gifts—from passports to money to a brand new car—is the most solid escape plan she’s had.

Meanwhile we wake up with Murda through Uncle Clifford’s POV. Backlit through the rising sun, to stare into LaMarques’ eyes is another way we make our viewers feel the true rush of intimacy between this couple.

With Murda going on tour, Uncle Clifford uses this as a moment to break-up. She’s doing him a favor as t she knows he can’t succeed with her by his side. However, thru backlighting we show that the sun is shining, trying to let them stand in their light. 🧵continues…👇🏿

Mercedes seeing her mother become Mayor Bishop feels her with disgust and low-key pride. Though Woodbine has won, she is clearly not in support of the casino referendum that passed. 24/7 sin is on its way to Chucalissa and will have a grand foe in Mayor Bishop.

Patrice and Mercedes have been separated all season, ghosting each other, but like a ghost Patrice, has haunted Mercedes this season as she comes to terms with the trauma of their toxic relationship. TVs and billboards have kept Patrice at bay.

Mercedes turns away from Patrice’s interview when a delivery from Farrah arrives at the door—a photo of Mercedes from the exhibit along with a 30K check. The original sponsorship between Coach and Cedes was 10K a week. She had received 1 payment, 1 week in before he “expired” it.

Mercedes 1st thinks this is money owed from Coach, but it’s really Farrah giving her royalties in perpetuity from the sale of the photos! Mercedes is learning about new income streams as it relates to her stripping career. Though this is the end of them, a new dreams begins.

Hailey’s plans to tell Andre about possibly being pregnant was thwarted by being caught by the wife. Regardless, her gift of cigars is a low-key nod to what she’s holding in that belly of hers as old tradition demands that new fathers be gifted cigars upon birth of their kiddos.

Despite losing, Andre’s plans to move back to Chucalissa—maybe (or maybe not) —with his wife is an indication that the prodigal son has come back home. With the casino referendum having passed, it’s clear that Hailey will be using Andre to secure that 10M for the Pynk.

But the tables soon turn when Hailey calls Georgie, the new head of Promised Land Casinos. Georgie doesn’t need the waterfront property that is The Pynk anymore…

With the help of brother Wayne Kyle, Corbin has been able to have the city approve a canal that will bring the Mississippi River to the Kyles’ front door. Named the Corbin Kyle Canal it will be one of the water works project approved by the now reinstated City Councilman Wayne.

The city council in small towns often weild more power than the mayor and this is no exception. “Sometimes you gotta bring the water to you” was Clifford’s advice. The Pynk is saved (again) and will be within a stone’s throw of a casino.

But water got a good memory, it always flows back to where it once ran…

Uncle Clifford soon gets overrun by a newly discharged Ernestine whose RE-hired Big L to help plan her “Finna Fuck Life Up” party. Her flirtation with the Ugandan Godfrey has escalated into something more. Ernestine’s got her groove back.

The spirit of Beulah arrives, the living room being flooded with the color pink. There Beulah sits smoking with that Ernestine special in her hand. Uncle Clifford initially thinks she’s come for Ernestine. “I came here fuh YOU.”

It soon becomes clear that Uncle Clifford has pushed Murda away out of fear and a lack of belief in true love. Beulah died of AIDS when Cliff was in her teens, making her fearful of intimacy having seen its tragic consequences in her own life and within the black community.

COVID, also a virus of intimacy, has disproportionately impacted the black community. And yet in the time of Corona, she has put down her mask, literally and figuratively, and allowed someone to know her more intimately. The grief for Beulah makes her question her closed heart.

FUN FACT: We used theatrical in-camera lighting cues to mark the appearance of our haint Beulah. The two-toned colorway once again underscoring our Delta Noir style.

Keyshawn makes one last stop to pick up money Murda owes her. They trust each other deeply, she revealing she’s starting a new life out West. Through rich, warm lighting we show the potential of success for them both.

But the warmth of other suns may not be what Murda needs and his play sister Keyshawn questions him about leaving Chucalissa and therefore Uncle Clifford for good. Should he go forward or stay back?

Keyshawn completes her transformation into Lil’ Red Riding Hood as she flips up her own hood, saying goodbye to Murda and goodbye to Chucalissa forever.

The lyrics to Jazmine Sullivan’s “The Other Side” is the internal monologue for Keyshawn & Mercedes. This song from Sullivan’s album “Heaux Tales” puts a nice period on Mercedes’ journey after her foray into sponsorship.

“It Art.” burns bright in her nascent studio. The sign is a callback to the toxic fight she and her mother Patrice had in the Pynk parking lot. But now Mercedes almost has everything.

She dances like the legend she is, hitting the supershero pole until she is confronted with a haint in the mirror. Upon further inspection, unlike the hotel mirror in “Jackson”, Patrice is in the flesh.

Woodbine floats in dressed in white, Mercedes stands her ground in black. These two opposing colors, echo traditional noir. This war between mother and daughter has been brewing since last season, but they have both arrived at their “new dreams.”

Mercedes is starting up a pole fitness business. Farrah’s royalties a stream to cover overhead costs. Mayor Bishop Woodbine will continue to rock 2 crowns — one from the pulpit their other in the political ring.

The pandemic caused much soul-searching, and Woodbine is no different. Never the one to say she is sorry, it is clear that she harbors deep regret having stolen Mercedes’ dream from her. Woodbine’s olive branch is heart wrenching. Patrice re-connects Mercedes with Terricka.

Mercedes line “Sometimes God uses the Devil to give you yo’ blessings,” rings true. Just like Autumn fronted her the down payment for the gym, Woodbine gives Mercedes back her daughter. For the first time in ages, our shero Mercedes knows what winning feels like. 🧵continues…

Hailey rolls up on Uncle Clifford enraged she has helped Corbin with the canal. Uncle Clifford signing over Corbin’s 250K check is a gesture that pays in kind for Hailey’s grief. This same amount stolen from Montavius and what she lost her daughter over.

One of my favorite scenes of the season, it’s clear that Uncle Clifford really wanted to be the maternal figure Hailey deserved as an orphan. @Elarica & @AllDayNicco played this business dissolution like a mother/daughter breakup imbuing it with a much deeper color and resonance.

One of my favorite Uncle Clifford’s rules 👇🏿

Keyshawn arrives to her step-sister’s house to find that her step-mother, Chanisse has popped up unannounced on the wrong damn day. Too make matters worse she calls Derrick to catch-up, setting off alarm bells and causing him to pick up the children.

Keyshawn’s Evil Step Mother Chanisse is true to form. It’s clear with this one gesture, her fairytale is heading towards a real nightmare.

Crowns land on the heads thass ready to wear them. Backlit, Andre steps into the sun as a son who is ready. Truth and reconciliation has become his crown as he walks into the future to re-connect with his father on death row.

Keyshawn arrives back home to find a CPS agent has arrived to investigate a mandated report from the drs office, coupled with a call of a “concerned neighbor”. Just like he called to get Diamond fired early in the season, it’s clear Derrick has been covering his bases.

Many in the #PynkPosse have remarked that Keyshawn would have immediately been investigated at the dr’s office. Not necessarily so, as during COVID cases got backed up. This led to some unfortunate tragedies.

Keyshawn hearing the pending investigation realizes the awful truth. She is trapped again. Blood boiling, she tries to keep calm, but what she sees/imagines is her Big Bad Wolf laughing at her.

We used a wide angle lens placed extremely close to amplify the smallest of facial expressions in both Derrick and the CPS lady. As we shift into Keyshawn’s head, investigation protocol sonically shifted to the nasty disparaging insults that stood for her own negative thoughts.

Keyshawn finally fights her wolf but he has already “swallowed the Key(shawn).” Her warranted anger makes her look violent and further proving she must be the abuser. In addition to Derrick, hitting the officer causes her to be placed under arrest. She’s on her way to a felony.

The overhead shot of her down on the ground with a knee on her neck articulates the power of the police. The feet of her abuser and of the CPS lady (the State) also totter into frame, symbolizing the weight of whiteness this black mother will have to fight.

Mercedes finally tries to connect with Mane, after having gotten her groove back post dancing at the Pynk. Her attempts are soon rebuffed as Mane challenges her support of Hurt Village Hustla rapper Lil’ Murda.

True to her nature, Mercedes is a peace maker, marking the Pynk as a metaphorical Switzerland where what set you rep doesn’t matter. “Last night we was all pink.”

Mercedes’ #BlackMenDeserveToGrowOld shirt with Young Dolph’s face was a tribute. Both @Therealbrandee and I were heartbroken over the killing of rapper Young Dolph in 2021 and the cycle of violence in our hometown of Memphis that followed.

It made sense that Mercedes would rock that shirt like a peace flag in the midst of a brewing gang war between the Chief-fi-Chiefs and the Hurt Village Hustlas.

Despite, Mane shows his a darker side, calling Lil’ Murda a faggot. The streets’ been whispering, something Murda admitted to the Uncle Clifford in the 2nd episode of the series. Now the whispers’ becoming roars.

Whisper’s pendulum let’s us know the thesis for the entire Season 2 #anbodycangetit Whether it’s been COVID, a bullet, or feelings, the stakes have been high for each and every character.

Diamond receiving a call from Keyshawn from jail is a complete surprise. She finally takes him up on his offer from the pilot episode. Speaking in the “fairytale talk” she lets Diamond know her Big Bad Wolf got the upper hand. No matter, Keyshawn’s kiss re-activated her hitta.

Both bathed in red light, in two different places shows their agreement over the blood that will be shed. And just like that, another person of the Killer game has turned into a killer herself. But it’s kill or be killed and this victim wants to survive.

Mercedes’ confession that last night was her last dance stops Uncle Clifford in her tracks. Mercedes leaving the Pynk is truly the end of an era, as this is the “booty that built this bitch”. But it’s time. No announcement needed. Mercedes has used The Pynk as her stepping stone.

A new era is being ushered in by new dancer Roulette, who over the course of the season has gone from prostitute to pimp. Nineveh’s interest in becoming part of Roulette’s stable marks a moment of change at the Pynk. Uncle Clifford has been able to keep hoeing at bay - til now.

Uncle Clifford continuing to push LaMarques away triggers a volcano of emotions neither were prepared for. It’s clear that Uncle Clifford’s insecurities are getting in the way, but this pushes LaMarques to prove to Cliff that’s he’s ready to love her because he’s loved before.

He finally opens up about Big Teak. He admits their first encounter was a lustful sexual hookup, but subsequently their time in the jailhouse supply closet led to something deep and true.

LaMarquesfinally confesses about that night he arrived bloody on Cliff’s front porch. Heartbroken for him, Cliff still continues to make excuses, knowing if he was with her in the light, he may damage his career.

Big L’s interrupts this beautiful moment. In true finesser fashion, Hailey uses one of her old acccounts Chennai Fabrics to bottom the Pynk account to -24K. They’re gonna need to hold drugs to get out of the hole and with that Uncle Clifford becomes the plug.

Texas guhl Erykah Badu in “Didn’t Cha Know” croons the inner monologue of Texas gal Hailey Colton. Encased in a white suit, we see her get off a bus in a bustling city, wandering into a Chinatown.

The Chameleon” turns to us, her hair now blonde. Plastic bag of clothes in one hand and hope in her belly. She did not leave Chucalissa with what she wanted but with what she needed. Life.

Autumn came in on the wind and that is exactly how she left. The strip club is a revolving door, so many women come and go. Autumn was saved by the Pynk and she saved The Pynk. Goodbye, Ms. Autumn Night. #PValley will never be the same.

Uncle Clifford arrives to the dance floor high AF after getting high on her own supply. “Love Ballad” by L.T.D. scores this moment of fancy. Pink and confetti filters made the moment heightened and dreamy.

But THIS IS NOT A DREAM. LaMarques slides his hands around her waist, and in the swirling lights beneath a Mississippi moon kisses her passionately. It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for especially after how he refused to claim her on Murda Night. But tonight is the future.

“What we have is much more than they can see” Jeffrey Osborne croons and yet our Pynk Framily can finally see out in the open. They express an array of emotions from confusion to pride to disgust. Beulah’s spirit stands in the middle her breath taken away.

Some members of the #PynkPosse think it unrealistic for Murda to come out with all that’s at stake for his life and his career. @PValleywriters talked about this for years. Our job is to use our imagination to make the unrealistic real.

Our hope is that by looking in this mirror we have created, someone will step into their bravery like Uncle Clifford and LaMarques and love in the light.

We find Diamond preparing to do the deed for Keyshawn when he is attacked by none other than BIG BONE. #PynkPosse y’all called it!! She ain’t been up to no good. Sent by the Delta Devoted to find info on their fallen soldier Montavius. She’s NOT his sister.

The DD Bawse stands beside Big Bone and trains his gun on Diamond. The weapon focus triggers his PTSD, but killing him would be too easy. A callback to Uncle Clifford’s fun kidnapping, DJ Zirk’s “Lock ’em in the Trunk” plays as we slam 2 black on Diamond and the SZN 2 finale.